DETROIT — The New York Yankees swear Alex Rodriguez isn't a lost cause. They also swear there have been no trade discussions involving their slumping and downtrodden third baseman.

Rodriguez wasn't in Wednesday's lineup—prior to the postponement—for the second consecutive game. Down 3-0 in the American League Championship Series, the Yankees face elimination by the Detroit Tigers. Following Wednesday's rainout at Comerica Park, Game 4 will be played at 4:07 p.m. ET Thursday.

Struggling Curtis Granderson also was benched for Game 4 with Brett Gardner in the starting lineup again. Granderson is 3-for-32 with 15 strikeouts this postseason.

"I don't think he's a shot player," manager Joe Girardi said of benching Rodriguez for a second consecutive night. "I think he's a guy that's going through some struggles, similar to what (Granderson) has went through. There's some things you have to try to fix and get him going, and we'll continue to do that with both of them.

"I'll evaluate every day. And you know, my hope is we're talking about it tomorrow."

It was Tuesday night that a report surfaced saying the Yankees had discussed a trade involving Rodriguez with the Miami Marlins. On Wednesday, Yankees GM Brian Cashman shut down those rumors.

"I've had no discussions whatsoever with the Marlins and certainly haven't had any trade discussions," Cashman said. "We would never have any trade discussions under the circumstances (still playing in the postseason).

"Not down the line are there any trade talks about any of our players, including Alex. I haven't engaged any general manager about any trade discussions since the deadline."

Obviously, all of that could change once the Yankees' season ends, whether that be Thursday or at the end of the month with them holding a World Series trophy.

It's no secret the Yankees wouldn't mind getting out from under Rodriguez's contract — he's owed $114 million over the next five seasons — but that's unrealistic given his declining production and the money he is owed.

What we know for sure is the Yankees don't seem to have any confidence in Rodriguez right now, especially when a righthanded pitcher is on the mound.

In the ninth inning of Game 3, with lefthander Phil Coke in relief for the Tigers, two out, runners on base and left-handed hitting Raul Ibanez due up, manager Joe Girardi decided not to pinch-hit with Rodriguez, who had a .924 OPS against lefties during the regular season. Not to mention Rodriguez was 4-for-6 with two home runs against Detroit's Game 3 starter, Justin Verlander, during the regular season but was still benched.

Part of the defense for leaving Ibanez in the game is that he has been one of the team's best hitters in the playoffs.

Ibanez struck out to end the game.

Girardi and Cashman both said they see ways Rodriguez can still help the team, but if neither pitcher in Game 3 was the situation, then what is? The Tigers don't have any lefthanders in their rotation, so that means Eric Chavez will likely continue to start in this series, assuming it gets past Game 4.

Rodriguez had a .717 OPS against righthanders in the regular season, and this postseason he is 0-for-18 with 12 strikeouts against them.

"When you're going through the tough times, it doesn't have to be the end-all and be-all," Cashman said. "Opportunities will exist. … Alex is going to wait for that opportunity. Right now it looks like in theory we'll do that against left-handed pitching.

"That doesn't mean that he's done, that he's finished, that he's not capable. He is still a big threat, but for whatever reason right now we are adjusting to what we are seeing."

Addressing where the Yankees are with Rodriguez long-term is something Cashman knows will come at him hard once the season is over.

"(What is happening) in the short-term doesn't mean that that will necessarily take place in the long-term," he said. "And it doesn't mean we're not going to have to deal with legitimate questions (about Rodriguez's future).